Roanoke Rapids receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Roanoke Rapids
Rocky Mount
Opportunity
29 · Bottom 6%
vs23 · Bottom 2%
Growth
39 · Bottom 31%
vs36 · Bottom 25%
Climate
77 · Top 23%
vs75 · Top 28%
Physical resilience
47 · Bottom 39%
vs45 · Bottom 35%
Housing affordability
97 · Top 14%
vs94 · Top 23%
Schools
13 · Bottom 4%
vs3 · Bottom 1%
Access
57 · Bottom 6%
vs72 · Bottom 14%
Economic stability
38 · Bottom 15%
vs36 · Bottom 12%
Measured values
| Metric | Roanoke Rapids | Rocky Mount | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,856 | 54,297 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $53,690 | $55,534 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $30,053 | $31,561 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,499/sq mi | 1,200/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $142,700 | $165,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $858 | $957 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 49.9% | 49.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.1% | 5.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.4% | -2.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.0% | 22.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 18.4% | 19.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 24 | 87 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.6 | 1.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 14.3% | -21.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 90°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 32°F | 31°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 75 mi | 45 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.1 min | 22.8 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.3 | 40.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 7 | 15 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 16.37 | 21.23 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 20.5% | 12.4% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 30.8% | 27.9% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 99.4% | 98.7% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Roanoke Rapids
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Rocky Mount
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Roanoke Rapids
50
Your Score
48
Area Score
Rocky Mount
48
Your Score
45
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Roanoke Rapids, NC · Rocky Mount, NC · How this is calculated: methodology